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At least 667 records · Page 37Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

MIB1 proliferation index in breast infiltrating carcinoma: comparison with other proliferative markers and association with new biological prognostic factors.

AIMS: In breast invasive carcinoma our objectives were I) to compare cellular proliferation determined by MIB1 index with S-phase fraction (SPF) assessed by flow cytometry and with mitotic index, and II) to examine the association of MIB1 index with classical and with new biological prognostic factors [bcl-2, p53, c-erbB-2 and cathepsin D (CD)]. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 102 cases of breast invasive carcinoma, 5-microm thick serial sections were cut from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks, and processed for detection of CD, c-erbB-2, p53, bcl-2, Ki-67 antigen MIB-1 and estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR). SPF was measured by flow cytometry in fresh-frozen tissue samples taken from the carcinoma in each patient. MIB1 index was correlated with SPF (rho=0.45, p<0.0001) and with mitotic index (rho=0.42, p<0.0001). The MIB-1 index was positively associated with the histological grade (p=0.001), tumor size (p=0.04) and the presence of metastases in axillary lymph nodes (p=0.01). MIB1 was associated directly with p53 (p=0.045) and inversely with bcl-2 (p=0.0002). The MIB-1 index was not statistically associated with c-erbB-2. There was a weak association between MIBI index and stromal cell CD. The median MIB1 index was higher in tumors with moderate to strong CD staining of stromal cell, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.09). CONCLUSIONS: MIB1 index correlates with well established methods for assessing tumor proliferation and with parameters of an aggressive phenotype of tumor. MIB1 index is an effective and readily accessible method for assessing tumor proliferation in breast carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Effects of lifestyle factors on stiffness index of calcaneus measured by quantitative ultrasound system among Japanese women aged 40 years and over: the Hizen-Oshima Study.

To explore how the stiffness index of the calcaneus is related to lifestyle factors, we examined the associations of lifestyle factors, age, and years since menopause, with stiffness index of the calcaneus among 573 community-dwelling Japanese women aged 40-89 years. Stiffness index of the calcaneus was obtained from quantitative ultrasound measurement. Body height and weight were measured, from which body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Physical activity index was calculated using a validated questionnaire. Dietary calcium intake and amount of ingested alcohol were estimated by a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Current smoking status was obtained by questionnaire. In univariate analysis, stiffness index was positively related to physical activity index and BMI, and inversely to age and years since menopause, but not to dietary calcium intake. Stiffness index of drinkers and current smokers was not significantly different from that of non-drinkers and non-smokers, respectively. Among the natural menopausal women, multiple regression analysis showed that advancing age and years since menopause were associated with lower stiffness index, while higher physical activity index and greater BMI were associated with higher stiffness index. In conclusion, higher physical activity, in combination with adequate nutrition for weight maintenance, should be emphasized as a part of a healthy lifestyle in order to maintain bone health among middle-aged and elderly Japanese women.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Volume-corrected mitotic index in human pancreatic cancer. Relation to histologic grade, clinical stage, and prognosis.

A retrospective study was performed on 59 pancreatic cancer patients diagnosed during 1970-1988. The mean follow-up time of all individual patients was 6.9 months (range, 0-37 months). Histologic grade, clinical stage (UICC), and volume-corrected mitotic index (M/V index) were correlated to the survival of patients. Histologic grade (p = 0.167) and clinical stage (p = 0.066) were not related to overall survival with statistical significance. The M/V index was significantly associated with overall survival (p = 0.004). M/V index (p = 0.004), clinical stage (p = 0.029), and histologic grade (p = 0.126) predicted survival at 1 year after diagnosis. M/V index divided grade-II tumors into two prognostically different groups (p = 0.050). Seven of 59 patients who survived more than 12 months had an M/V index less than 2, and patients who survived less than 6 months had significantly higher M/V index values (chi-square = 528.3, p less than 0.001). The metastasizing potential of pancreatic cancer and lymph node involvement was also associated with the M/V index. Histologic grade and M/V index were positively correlated (chi-square = 38.6, p less than 0.001, r = 0.702). On the basis of our results, it seems that the M/V index is better than histologic grade or clinical stage in predicting survival of pancreatic cancer patients. This result suggests the potential use of the M/V index in selecting patients for different modes of therapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

Nuclear morphometry and mitotic indexes as prognostic factors in breast cancer.

The primary tumors of 106 female patients with breast cancer (with a mean follow-up of 17 years) were analysed for prognostic factors, with special emphasis on improved prognostic prediction of the small axillary lymph node-negative tumours. In addition to classic prognostic variables (histological type, nuclear grade, tumor size, node involvement), six morphometrically determined nuclear variables (mean nuclear area, SD of nuclear area, mean area of the 10 largest nuclei, maximum nuclear diameter, shortest nuclear diameter, mean nuclear perimeter, and SD of nuclear perimeter) and two mitotic indexes (mitotic activity index (MAI) and volume corrected mitotic index (M/V-index] were measured and related to the patient survival data. Mitotic indexes (p less than 0.001) as well as nuclear morphometric features (p less than 0.001) accurately predicted axillary lymph node involvement at operation. The axillary metastases that developed during the follow-up were also significantly related to mitotic indexes (p less than 0.001). The same indexes also predicted the recurrence free survival (p less than 0.001). The best predictors of cancer related survival were axillary node status and the mitotic indexes at the time of diagnosis (p less than 0.001). The potential of the M/V index in predicting the patient survival was equal to that of the axillary lymph node status. Of the two mitotic indexes, the M/V index was superior to the MAI in survival analysis. The results had us to advocate the inclusion of the newly introduced M/V index in the prognostic factors used in predicting the biological behaviour of breast cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[A new index of acceleration plethysmogram and its clinical physiological evaluation].

The purposes of the present study were to examine a new index of acceleratingly plethysmogram (APG) and to discuss the possibility to apply the APG index. One hundred sixty-three subjects voluntarily participated in the present study. The mean values (n = 10) of individual coefficient of variance were 7.22% in wave height B, 8.26% in the total area of the lower part under the base line, and 7.28% in a new APG index. The coefficient of variance in the APG index calculated from the previous method (18.67%) was larger than that of the present study. We recognized the significantly polynomial relationship between the new APG index and types of APG. Further, the value of new APG index remarkably increased when the index was beyond 50. There were significant differences in age, blood pressure, rate of body fat, blood glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and index of arteriosclerosis between above 50 and below 50 in the new APG index. These results suggest that the present APG index is adequate about about the individual reproducibility, and it has the possibility to apply as an index of arteriosclerosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Prognostic significance of Ki67 (MIB1) proliferation index and p53 over-expression in chondrosarcomas.

To investigate the prognostic significance of the Ki67 (MIBI)-proliferation index and p53 over-expression in chondrosarcomas, we retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 29 patients with chondrosarcomas using immunohistochemical assays with MIBI and p53 monoclonal antibodies on formalin-fixed, paraffinembedded tissue samples with microwave preparation. We also assessed 19 patients with benign cartilaginous tumors as a control group. There was a significant positive correlation between MIBI index and tumor grade in chondrosarcomas, while there was no significant difference in the MIBI index between the grade-1 chondrosarcomas and the benign cartilaginous tumors. Patients categorized in the high-MIBI-index group had a significantly lower survival rate than those in the low-index group. Moreover, in analyzing the sub-set of the patients with grade-II chondrosarcomas, it was found that they could be prognostically sub-divided according to MIBI index. The p53 index also significantly correlated with patient survival, and there was significant correlation between the MIBI index and the p53 index. However, in multivariate analysis, only the MIBI index and tumor grade proved to be independent prognostic indicators of chondrosarcomas. These results demonstrate that the MIBI index can be a useful procedure for assessing tumor grade in chondrosarcomas, especially for determining the prognosis of patients with grade-II chondrosarcoma.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Predictive value of amniotic fluid index for oligohydramnios in patients with prolonged pregnancies.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the predictive values of the amniotic fluid index for measures of perinatal morbidity and for clinical observations consistent with oligohydramnios. We evaluated positive and negative predictive value of the amniotic fluid index for measures of perinatal morbidity and for clinical observations consistent with oligohydramnios at various cutoff values for amniotic fluid index in a cohort of 449 consecutive postdates patients who had a clinician's observation of amniotic fluid quantity and quality recorded at the time of rupture of membranes. Newborn morbidity was a rare event. Clinical observations consistent with oligohydramnios had significant positive and negative predictive values for some measures of newborn morbidity. The last amniotic fluid index performed during antepartum testing had 95% confidence intervals for relative risks for these measures of newborn morbidity that included unity and therefore were not significant. At a cutoff value of 5.0 cm, the positive predictive value of the amniotic fluid index for clinical observations consistent with oligohydramnios was 50%; the negative predictive value was 85%, with a prevalence of clinical observations consistent with oligohydramnios of 19%. The presence of fetal heart rate decelerations did not significantly improve the positive predictive value of the amniotic fluid index. Higher positive predictive values were obtained at cutoff values of 4 cm and 3 cm with minimal loss in negative predictive value. The amniotic fluid index did not possess significant predictive value for measures of newborn morbidity. Clinical observations consistent with oligohydramnios at the time of rupture of membranes did have predictive value for some of these measures and thus probably are a reflection of the actual amount of fluid present inside the uterus prior to rupture of membranes. The amniotic fluid index is only a fair predictor of clinical observations consistent with oligohydramnios. Thus, a positive test correctly predicted these observations 50% of the time, with 50% false-positive results. Undertaking delivery in the 50% of patients without clinical observations consistent with oligohydramnios may lead to a higher cesarean section rate since these patients do not require induction and are subject to the risk of a failed induction of labor. A negative test correctly predicted observations consistent with normal fluid 85% of the time, with a false-negative rate of 15%. Thus, a negative test was no guarantee that observations consistent with oligohydramnios, and thus newborn morbidity, would not subsequently appear. Frequent testing with multiple modalities and induction of labor when the Bishop score is favorable remain sensible options. Induction of labor in postdates patients with a low amniotic fluid index needs to be evaluated in a yet-to-be-performed prospective randomized control trial before a low amniotic fluid index is assumed to be the sole indicator for induction of labor. More stringent cutoff values for amniotic fluid index may be justified.

Amniocentesis↗
PubMed1999

Identification of the occluded artery in patients with myocardial ischemia induced by prolonged percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty using traditional vs transformed ECG-based indexes.

We have studied the spatial properties of ischemic changes as induced by prolonged angioplasty and how the changes are related to different ECG indexes. Indexes based on measurements at specific points in time (ST level at J + 60 ms point, maximal T wave amplitude and position, QT interval, and QRS duration) and global indexes (based on the Karhunen-Loève transform and applied to the QRS complex, ST-T complex, ST segment, and T wave), considering both repolarization and depolarization information, were analyzed. The changes during the occlusion period of the different indexes were used as variables in a multivariate discriminant analysis to determine which indexes showed the best discrimination of the three major occlusion sites (corresponding to LAD, RCA, and LCX coronary arteries). Occlusions in LCX artery were the most difficult to classify. With three local indexes (ST60 level measured in lead V3, T wave amplitude in I, and ST60 in III) it was possible to correctly classify 76% of patients by the occlusion site, and with three KLT-derived indexes (first-order KLT index for ST-T complex in I and for QRS in leads V3 and I) 83% of correct classification was obtained. Using six indexes for local and KLT-derived indexes the correct classification was increased to 85 and 90% of patients, respectively. The use of different ECG indexes (from different intervals) on quasiorthogonal leads permitted the identification of the occluded artery in patients undergoing PTCA and may be extended to more general use.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
PubMed2003

Modified pouchitis disease activity index: a simplified approach to the diagnosis of pouchitis.

PURPOSE: Pouchitis is the most common complication of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis. Our previous study suggested that symptoms alone are not reliable for the diagnosis of pouchitis. The most commonly used diagnostic instrument is the 18-point pouchitis disease activity index consisting of three principal component scores: symptom, endoscopy, and histology. Despite its popularity, the pouchitis disease activity index has mainly been a research tool because of costs of endoscopy (especially with histology), complexity in calculation, and time delay in determining histology scores. It is not known whether pouch endoscopy without biopsy can reliably diagnose pouchitis in symptomatic patients. The aim of the present study was to determine whether omitting histologic evaluation from the pouchitis disease activity index significantly affects the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic criteria for pouchitis. METHODS: Ulcerative colitis patients with an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis and symptoms suggestive of pouchitis were evaluated. Patients with chronic refractory pouchitis and Crohn's disease were excluded. Patients with pouchitis disease activity index scores of seven or more were diagnosed as having pouchitis. Different diagnostic criteria were compared on the basis of the pouchitis disease activity index component scores. Nonparametric receiver-operating-characteristic curves were used to measure proposed pouchitis scores' diagnostic accuracy compared with diagnosis from the pouchitis disease activity index. The receiver-operating-characteristic area under the curve measured how much these diagnostic strategies differed from each other. RESULTS: Fifty-eight consecutive symptomatic patients were enrolled; 32 (55 percent) patients were diagnosed with pouchitis. With the use of the pouchitis disease activity index as a criterion standard, the use of only symptom and endoscopy scores (modified pouchitis disease activity index) produced an area under the curve of 0.995. Establishing a cut-point of five or more for diseased patients resulted in a sensitivity equal to 97 percent and specificity equal to 100 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis based on the modified pouchitis disease activity index offers similar sensitivity and specificity when compared with the pouchitis disease activity index for patients with acute or acute relapsing pouchitis. Omission of endoscopic biopsy and histology from the standard pouchitis disease activity index would simplify pouchitis diagnostic criteria, reduce the cost of diagnosis, and avoid delay associated with determining histology score, while providing equivalent sensitivity and specificity.

Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal↗
PubMed1992

How frequently should the amniotic fluid index be repeated?

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the most appropriate interval for assessing amniotic fluid volume with amniotic fluid index. STUDY DESIGN: In a retrospective analysis amniotic fluid indexes performed every 3 to 4 days in antepartum testing patients were compared with their follow-up values. Of 10,742 amniotic fluid indexes there were 7393 with follow-up values within 4 days. The results were stratified by current amniotic fluid index, gestational age, and concurrent nonstress test results. The groups were compared with chi 2 analysis. RESULTS: Patients with normal amniotic fluid index (> or = 8 cm) had a 0.54% chance of oligohydramnios developing in the next 4 days. Those patients with low normal amniotic fluid indexes (5 to 8 cm) had a 5% chance of oligohydramnios developing within the next 4 days, and patients with low amniotic fluid indexes (< or = 5 cm) had a 59% chance of persistent oligohydramnios 4 days after the index examination. Subdividing by gestational age demonstrated that patients > or = 41 weeks' gestation had a 2.6% chance of oligohydramnios developing within 4 days if current amniotic fluid index was between 8 and 15 cm. Results of concurrent fetal heart rate findings did not appear to change the risk for development of oligohydramnios. CONCLUSION: In patients < 41 weeks' gestation with normal amniotic fluid indexes, a repeat amniotic fluid index is not necessary for 7 days.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed2004

[Usefulness of risk indexes for the prediction of surgical site infection in patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The use of risk indexes, originally developed in the US for the assessment of SSI risk, is an useful instrument that must be analyzed according to each specific procedure. The addition of other possible SSI risk factors, like the use of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis, could improve the predictive value of these indexes. The aim of this study was to determine the SSI incidence rate for craniotomy in patients admitted to the Neurosurgical Unit of the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (Spain), to assess the use of standard NNIS and SENIC indexes, and to assess the possible effect of the addition of a new risk factor (adequate or inadequate use of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis) to these indexes. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Risk factors for SSI were assessed following common standard definitions and procedures (CDC-NNIS) over a three-year period (1999-2001). NNIS and SENIC risk indexes were calculated. The effect of the addition of a new variable, namely perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis adequate (0 points) or inappropriate/no prophylaxis (1 point) on these indexes (modified indexes NNISa and SENICa) was also assessed. Statistical analysis included both parametric and non-parametric standard tests. RESULTS: The study included a total of 203 patients undergoing a craniotomy procedure (40% of all neurosurgical procedures). The overall SSI incidence rate was 6.8% (14 patients developed SSI). The cut-off point (75 percentile) for the duration of the procedure was 180 minutes instead of the commonly US reported 240 minutes. Patients who develop SSI had a trend towards having shorter operation times. For those patients in the lower risk groups, the SSI incidence rate was: NNIS (0, 1): 6.9%; SENIC (0, 1): 6.2%. If the modified indexes were used, the SSI incidence rate was: NNISa (0, 1): 4.2%; SENICa (0, 1): 4.9%. When NNIS and SENIC indexes, both standard and modified (NNISa and SENICa), were compared, no statistically significant differences between infected and non-infected patients were observed. CONCLUSIONS: When applied to a health system other than the US, SENIC and NNIS indexes could be useful if adapted to each specific situation and procedure. The added value of a new risk factor (perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis) on standard NNIS and SENIC indexes shows a slight improvement in their prediction rate for SSI in patients undergoing craniotomy, mainly in those patients at lower risk for developing superficial SSI.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis↗
PubMed2005

Refractive index distribution in the porcine eye lens for 532 nm and 633 nm light.

AIMS: To measure the refractive index distribution in porcine eye lenses for two wavelengths from the visible spectrum: 532 and 633 nm, in order to determine whether there are any discernible wavelength dependent differences in the shape of the profile and in the magnitude of refractive index. METHODS: Rays were traced through 17 porcine lenses of the same age group and of similar size. Ray trace parameters were used to calculate the refractive index distributions for 633 nm light in all 17 lenses and for 532 nm light in 10 lenses. The effect of the refractive index at the edge of the lens, on the rest of the profile, was considered because the mismatch between refractive index at the lens edge and the refractive index of the surrounding gel necessitated a further step in calculations. RESULTS: The shape of the refractive index distributions is parabolic. There is a small wavelength dependent difference in the magnitude of the refractive index across the profile and this increases very slightly into the centre of the lens. The value of the refractive index at the edge of the lens does not appreciably affect the index profile. CONCLUSIONS: The wavelength dependent differences in refractive index between light of 633 and 532 nm are small but discernible.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

A study of the Bispectral Index Monitor during procedural sedation and analgesia in the emergency department.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The Bispectral Index Monitor has been validated as an objective measure of sedation depth in the operating room; however, its value for states other than general anesthesia remains unclear. We hypothesized that bispectral index monitoring would reliably correlate with traditional definitions of sedation depth in emergency department patients undergoing procedural sedation and analgesia. METHODS: In this prospective observational study we measured the Bispectral Index score and a modified Ramsay Sedation Scale score every 5 minutes in a convenience sample of adult ED patients undergoing procedural sedation and analgesia. Investigators and treating physicians were blinded to Bispectral Index scores, which were later correlated with modified Ramsay Sedation Scale scores. We constructed receiver operating characteristic curves to determine the most discriminatory Bispectral Index score thresholds for sedation depth. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy paired readings were obtained from 37 patients. Despite being statistically significant (P <.0005), the correlation between the Bispectral Index Monitor and modified Ramsay Sedation Scale scores was only moderate (Spearman rho=-0.690) and displayed wide variability. A modified Ramsay Sedation Scale score consistent with mild-to-moderate sedation corresponded to Bispectral Index scores of 34 (general anesthesia) to 98 (fully awake), whereas a modified Ramsay Sedation Scale score consistent with deep sedation corresponded to Bispectral Index scores of 40 to 98. Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated moderate (0.83 to 0.86) discriminatory power at all modified Ramsay Sedation Scale thresholds, with the exception of a modified Ramsay Sedation Scale score of 7 or less, which demonstrated high discriminatory power (0.95). A Bispectral Index score of greater than 83 reliably excluded general anesthesia, and a Bispectral Index score of 70 or less reliably identified general anesthesia. CONCLUSION: Bispectral index monitoring reliably predicted patients undergoing procedural sedation and analgesia who were sedated to the point of general anesthesia from those with lesser degrees of sedation but did not discriminate mild-to-moderate sedation or moderate-to-deep sedation, as measured by the Ramsay Sedation Scale score for the patients undergoing procedural sedation and analgesia in our ED.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Variability of Doppler ophthalmic pressure index with occlusive carotid artery disease.

To evaluate day-to-day variability of Doppler ophthalmic pressure index by means of the ophthalmomanometry-Doppler technique, bilateral ophthalmic artery pressure and indirect systemic blood pressure determinations were repeated within 1 month in 40 patients with clinically stable occlusive carotid disease. No difference in Doppler ophthalmic pressure and calculated pressure index between both days could be demonstrated. The standard deviation of differences in ophthalmic pressure index between first and second day measurements was 0.04. Correlation between bilateral ophthalmic pressure index measurements on both days was high (r = 0.93, n = 80). It is concluded that individual Doppler ophthalmic pressure index must change at least 0.08 before it can be considered significant. In 37 patients with occlusive carotid artery disease (greater than 60% diameter reduction) undergoing 38 endarterectomies, Doppler ophthalmic pressure index was evaluated before and after surgery. Mean +/- SD ipsilateral Doppler ophthalmic pressure index increased from 0.59 +/- 0.07 to 0.71 +/- 0.05 (p less than 0.001) after endarterectomy. In 12 patients with significant bilateral occlusive carotid disease, mean +/- SD contralateral Doppler ophthalmic pressure index increased from 0.54 +/- 0.05 to 0.61 +/- 0.06 (p less than 0.02), whereas contralateral pressure index in patients with unilateral disease showed no change (0.71 vs 0.71) after ipsilateral endarterectomy. These results indicate that carotid endarterectomy not only normalizes ipsilateral Doppler ophthalmic pressure index but also improves contralateral Doppler ophthalmic pressure index provided significant bilateral occlusive carotid disease is present.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Specificity of indexes of malnutrition when applied to apparently healthy people: the effect of age.

Protein-energy malnutrition is thought to be widespread in hospitalized patients. However, the specificity of indexes used to assess malnutrition is uncertain. We therefore assessed the rate of false-positive diagnoses of malnutrition when biochemical-anthropometric indexes were applied to healthy subjects. Nutritional status was assessed in 175 healthy blood donors (aged 44.2 +/- 13.4 y) and in 34 highly fit elderly volunteers (aged 74.7 +/- 3.6 y) participating in the Nijmegen Four Days Walking March. We investigated both the Nutritional Risk Index [(1.489 x albumin) + (41.7 x present/usual weight)] and the Maastricht Index [20.68-(0.24 x albumin, g/L)-(19.21 x serum transthyretin, g/L)-(1.86 x lymphocytes, 10(6)/L)-(0.04 x ideal weight)]. We found previously that 52-64% of nonsurgical hospitalized patients were malnourished according to these indexes. In the present study, 1.9% of the 209 volunteers had apparent malnutrition according to the Nutritional Risk Index and 3.8% according to the Maastricht Index. The prevalence of apparent malnutrition in the elderly volunteers was 5.9% and 20.6%, respectively. The rate of false-positive diagnoses was acceptably low in those aged < 70 y with both the Nutritional Risk Index and the Maastricht Index; therefore, the use of these indexes will not cause a clinically significant increase in the prevalence of malnutrition because patients who are not malnourished are included. The high percentage of spurious malnutrition in the elderly limits the use of the Maastricht Index to subjects aged < 70 y.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Relationship between leaf area index and yield in double-crop and full-season soybean systems.

Previous research indicates a correlation between leaf area index (LAI) and yield of full-season soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill], which is a single crop planted early in the season. Leaf area index values of at least 3.5-4.0 in the reproductive stages are required for maximum potential yield. It is unknown how yields of double-crop soybean, which is planted late into harvested small grain fields, respond to changes in leaf area index. We hypothesized that double-crop soybean would be more sensitive to defoliation than full-season soybean. This study used linear and linear plateau models to describe the yield response of full-season and double-crop soybean to reductions in leaf area index through manual defoliation, and evaluated the yield response of double-crop soybean to reductions in leaf area index through natural insect defoliation. From 15 manual defoliation experiments over 3 yr, significant linear decreases in yield occurred in both full-season and double-crop soybean when leaf area index values were below 3.5-4.0 by developmental stages R4 to R5, whereas yields usually reached a plateau at higher leaf area index levels. Average yield loss was 769 +/- 319 kg ha(-1) for each unit decrease in leaf area index below the plateau; average maximum yield was 3,484 +/- 735 kg ha(-1). From eight field experiments over 2 yr, insect defoliators had no effect on double-crop soybean yield; leaf area index levels were above 4.0 by the developmental stage when leaf area index estimates were taken (R3 to R6). Therefore, double-crop soybean that maintains leaf area index values above the 3.5-4.0 critical level by mid-reproductive developmental stages can tolerate defoliating pests.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Left ventricular Tei index: comparison between flow and tissue Doppler analyses.

BACKGROUND: It is still unknown whether a correlation exists between left ventricular Tei index obtained by tissue Doppler imaging and that determined by flow Doppler waveforms. This study was conducted to evaluate their relationship and to assess the positional effect on them. METHODS: Twenty-six healthy subjects and 25 patients with essential hypertension were included. On the tissue Doppler images, the time interval from the end to the onset of the mitral annular velocity pattern during diastole and the duration of the S-wave were used to calculate tissue Doppler Tei index. RESULTS: The tissue Doppler Tei index correlated with the flow Doppler Tei index at sitting position (r = 0.406, P = 0.003), but not at left lateral decubitus position. The limits of agreement for the Tei index measured by both methods were -0.26 to 0.62 at left lateral decubitus position and -0.09 to 0.55 at sitting position. Preload reduction associated with sitting position with dangling feet raised the Tei index both in the healthy controls [0.54 (0.14) vs 0.42 (0.12), P < 0.001] and in the hypertensives [0.53 (0.15) vs 0.46 (0.12), P = 0.005]. There was a similar positional effect on the tissue Doppler Tei index in the control subjects [0.75 (0.12) vs 0.53 (0.10), P < 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Tissue Doppler Tei index does not seem to be a suitable substitute for flow Doppler Tei index. Flow Doppler Tei index is preload dependent and the loading status should be taken into consideration at the application of Tei index to the evaluation of myocardial performance.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Longitudinal measurement of amniotic fluid index in term pregnancies and its association with intrapartum fetal distress.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the dynamic changes in serially obtained amniotic fluid index values and to determine any association with intrapartum fetal distress in a term population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients, > or = 40 weeks of gestational age, evaluated at the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 'G. Salesi' Hospital, University of Ancona, between January 1, 1994, and December 31, 1995, participated in this longitudinal study. Women with an amniotic fluid index of > 50 mm, who also demonstrated a reactive nonstress test, underwent semiweekly amniotic fluid assessment until spontaneous labor. After 42 gestational weeks, the patients underwent an elective induction of labor. All patients were managed with continuous electronic fetal heart rate monitoring throughout labor. The incidence of intrapartum fetal distress, and meconium staining of amniotic fluid were evaluated with respect to the amniotic fluid index. RESULTS: Of the 117 patients that were evaluated by ultrasound, 83 women had multiple amniotic fluid index measurements and were enrolled in the study. A serial decrease in amniotic fluid index was documented in 54 women; the mean decrease per week was 20.7 +/- 15.4%. An increase in amniotic fluid index was noted in 17, while 11 women showed no change in amniotic fluid index over time. The 14 patients who underwent cesarean section for fetal distress had a significantly lower amniotic fluid index (p < 0.001) at the last sonographic examination than the normal outcome group. Significant differences were also observed for a serial decrease in the amniotic fluid index within a week (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of the 30% serial decrease in the amniotic fluid index cutoff point, with respect to intrapartum fetal distress were 86 and 93%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Longitudinal measurement of the amniotic fluid index seems to be an effective method in predicting intrapartum fetal distress in a term population.

Amniotic Fluid↗